The days of camping or hunting with an incandescent flashlight are now past as newer technology in the form of reliable and durable LED flashlights is standard equipment for outdoorsmen. This has been both a positive and significant change for the serious camper or hunter who previously had to make use of flashlights that were bulky and prone to failure. If you are planning a trip to the Grand Tetons or simply looking to replace that old flashlight housed in your truck’s glove box, then a LED powered flashlight is the way to go. Let's explore the world of current lighting technology and how a LED flashlight should be a part of your standard outdoors equipment.

Incandescent lighting cannot hold a candle to a light-emitting diode or LED. Quite simply, a LED flashlight emits light via a group of miniature light bulbs that are attached to an electrical circuit. With no filament present, LED lights do not easily and inconveniently burn out as they are powered by the movements of electrons contained within a semiconductor. The larger the concentration of LED bulbs within its plastic bulb housing the greater the amount of light emitted.

Putting all of the scientific information to the side, what exactly are the reasons that a LED flashlight is so valued by campers and hunters? Well, let’s count the ways as there are many:

Better All Around Lighting: LED flashlights offer a purer and brighter light than found in an incandescent flashlight. The strongest LED flashlights are able to reach as far as a mile away with a concentrated beam of light; compare that to a standard flashlight which gives decent lighting close up but quickly fades out further away.

Highly Power Efficient: If you take an incandescent flashlight with you on a trip, you better bring along some extra sets of batteries as you could run out of power midway through your expedition. With an LED flashlight, only five to ten percent of the power of a comparable light is used, saving you money and making battery replacement an uncommon event. From an environmental disposal standpoint, an LED powered flashlight is the best choice as expended batteries are kept to a bare minimum.

Much More Durable Under Tough Conditions: Who hasn't walked along a rocky trail or path and dropped their flashlight only to find it has broken apart? Basic flashlights are housed in plastic but even an incandescent flashlight made out of rubberized material is still vulnerable to trauma as one drop can break the filament rendering it inoperable. With an LED flashlight, you have use of a device that is made of tough resin and certain to last even through the harshest of conditions.

Offers Superior Resistance to Adverse Weather Conditions: Your hunting trip may have taken you far away from base, so there is nothing worse than a flashlight that is too fragile to operate in a driving rain or hold up under snow or ice. Even if you drop your LED flashlight in a body of water and quickly recover it, more than likely it will still be operating when you pick it up. Don't depend on an incandescent flashlight to offer to you the same resistance to the elements.

Is A Lightweight Device and Easy to Pack: When you are lugging gear through the woods “going light” makes your travels much easier. No need to carry a foot long flashlight weighing five pounds or more when a six ounce LED flashlight will do the job and better at that. You can put away the propane lantern too as LED powered lanterns are safer and lighter. That lighter load will give to you the additional room that you need to carry the hunting knife or two that every hunter must have at the ready.

When selecting an LED light your choices have never been better. Some outdoorsmen prefer to keep their hands as free as possible and opt to purchase a headband LED light. With a headband light, beams can be positioned to point in the direction that you want it to go and the light can be seen as far as 3,000 yards away. A dimmer switch also permits an LED headband light to have another use: you can strap it on when you need to take a look under the hood of your car.

Finally, you can find LED flashlights that serve a number of other different purposes including for professional use, fishing, emergencies, and more. Chances are you already own at least one LED flashlight, but considering its many uses owning only one certainly may not be enough.

Copyright 2006 –Matthew C. Keegan is a freelance web content, press release, and article writer who provides informative material to clients covering a wide range of interesting topics. Matt invites you to shop online for quality LED flashlights or for a hunting knife as well as to learn why LED lights are the superior choice for your personal lighting needs.